The Spectator, Volumes 1, 2 and 3 eBook

gave him for drowned in one of the Canals with which
that Country abounds; and the Mother was so afflicted
at the Loss of a fine Boy, who was her only Son,
that she died for Grief of it. Upon laying together
all Particulars, and examining the several Moles
and Marks [by] which the Mother used to describe
the Child [when [7]] he was first missing, the Boy
proved to be the Son of the Merchant whose Heart had
so unaccountably melted at the Sight of him.
The Lad was very well pleased to find a Father [who
[8]] was so rich, and likely to leave him a good
Estate; the Father on the other hand was not a little
delighted to see a Son return to him, whom he had
given for lost, with such a Strength of Constitution,
Sharpness of Understanding, and Skill in Languages.’

Here the printed Story leaves off; but if I may give
credit to Reports, our Linguist having received such
extraordinary Rudiments towards a good Education,
was afterwards trained up in every thing that becomes
a Gentleman; wearing off by little and little all
the vicious Habits and Practises that he had been
used to in the Course of his Peregrinations:
Nay, it is said, that he has since been employed in
foreign Courts upon National Business, with great
Reputation to himself and Honour to [those who sent
him, [9]] and that he has visited several Countries
as a publick Minister, in which he formerly wander’d
as a Gypsie.

C.

[Footnote 1: that]

[Footnote 2: that]

[Footnote 3: that]

[Footnote 4: that]

[Footnote 5: Sides]

[Footnote 6: About three pence.]

[Footnote 7: by when]

[Footnote 8: that]

[Footnote 9: his Country]

* * * *
*

No. 131. Tuesday, July 31, 1711.
Addison.

‘...
Ipsae rursum concedite Sylvae.’

Virg.

It is usual for a Man who loves Country Sports to
preserve the Game in his own Grounds, and divert himself
upon those that belong to his Neighbour. My Friend
Sir ROGER generally goes two or three Miles from his
House, and gets into the Frontiers of his Estate, before
he beats about in search of [a [1]] Hare or Partridge,
on purpose to spare his own Fields, where he is always
sure of finding Diversion, when the worst comes to
the worst. By this Means the Breed about his House
has time to encrease and multiply, besides that the
Sport is the more agreeable where the Game is the
harder to come at, and [where it] does not lie so
thick as to produce any Perplexity or Confusion in
the Pursuit. For these Reasons the Country Gentleman,
like the Fox, seldom preys near his own Home.